CRIME NEWS

Robbers threaten C-River timber dealers

By Ike Uchechukwu
AKIM QUA —HOODLUMS regularly break into the Akim Timber Market in the heart of Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, carting away their machines and timber worth millions of naira due to lack of border railing around the market and ridiculous security.
Incessant invasions on one of the oldest timber markets in the country, located at Akim Qua community in Calabar Municipality local government area, established in 1969, has led to dwindling fortunes on investments for the traders.
Speaking to Niger Delta Voice, President, Timber Dealers Association, Akim, Mr. Akparawa David Essien, said, “Our biggest challenge in this market is poor road network. In addition, we do not have a fence and criminals have carted away goods worth millions of naira. This has seriously affected my members.”
Gov Ayade visits market
He said: “The governor, Prof Ben Ayade, was here to see the situation we are passing through and it is really not palatable. Because of the kind of materials we deal in, we run into loss whenever an incident happens here and at the same time, hoodlums still cart away our goods at night, we have security here but no perimeter fencing.”
Welfare chair of the association, Mr. Uwem Edimoh Obo, said: ”Most times, they come in and cart away some of our machines and you know these materials are very expensive. Apart from that, they also loot timber in large quantities running into millions of naira.”
“We appeal to His Excellency to help us so that we can nip this hydra headed problem in the bud,” Obo said. Obo said the traders were law-abiding citizens, who paid their taxes as expected and urged government to speed up work on the internal road.
Clan head urges quick intervention
Clan Head (elect) of Akim Qua, HRH, Chief Basset Etteta –Ita told Niger Delta Voice, “This is my domain and I do not wait for government to do everything, sometimes, I sand fill some of the bad portions of the road leading to this market myself.”
“I learnt that the governor had visited the place but we want them to speed up action now that the rainy season is over, my people in around this market are suffering, if it was raining, you cannot even come into this place freely,” he bemoaned.
He also called on the timber dealers to go the extra mile of ensuring that they put adequate security in place before the fencing.
His words:” Most of the people that commit this crime are not from Akim ,but I want to urge the timber dealers to also make efforts to see that they contain any security challenge in this place to avoid going out of business because when you are robbed two or three times ,what else will be left in stock.”
[Vanguard]